Quote:
Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis
Using incentives to lure or keep employers who will provide jobs that pay at, and in most cases well above, the average salary is worthwhile and there's generally a financial case to be made. Outside of the hockey side of things, the Flames primarily employ people making minimum wage, in primarily part time jobs, with no benefits. Yes, there's other economic benefits the Flames provide, likewise there are also many of those same economic benefits for other companies. But it's hard to overcome the quality of employment difference a company like PetroCanada or CP provides compared to the Flames. It's pretty much insulting to suggest they're the same.
It's why if anyone thinks the city investing in an arena is more worthwhile than trying to lure Amazon here, I really don't know what to say other than my new standard "Sports really blinds us" line.
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Nice cherry pick. The fact is that you intellectually understand that there's a package of things that the Flames bring. From a certain number of jobs, to a certain number of hotel bookings, to tourism hell do you think Amazon wants to come to a city that has troubles keeping a pro sports team! Once you accept the fact there are various benefits to the team and its stadium being in the city, its not too much to ask for a kick-in, that isn't given back. Those benefits aren't going away.